Nigerian singer, Abiola Ahmed Akinbiyi, popularly known as Bella Shmurda, has raised concerns over the skyrocketing cost of music promotion in the country.
Speaking in a recent interview with Naija FM, Lagos, the “Cash App” crooner lamented that the financial burden of promoting music has made many artists hesitant to release new projects, especially albums.
According to him, the cost of producing and promoting quality music content has become overwhelming.
“To release an album, you need a huge budget, unlike singles. Because for albums, you’re promoting 10 to 14 songs all at once. It’s a lot,” he explained.
Bella further disclosed that the least cost of shooting a music video now stands at ₦20 million, making it difficult for many artists to create and promote multiple visuals from an album.
“Promoting songs on the radio, shooting videos for five or six songs—it’s a lot. These days, the least you can spend on a music video is ₦20 million. So how many artists can afford to shoot five videos?” he added.
The singer’s statement has sparked discussions among fans and industry insiders about the increasing financial pressure on emerging artists and the need for more affordable promotion strategies within Nigeria’s entertainment scene.
